I can’t tell you how many different scriptures there are describing the Lord’s second coming. Perhaps, instead of “second coming” I should simply say, “the Lord’s coming” or maybe “parousia.” Because some scriptures blend what we think of as the first coming with, an as yet, future appearing. There is the Lord’s “incarnation” and then there will be His “parousia” – a Greek word used in our text. In either case – or both cases – there are literally dozens of different prophecies all over our Bibles. From our current perspective, you who have a little Bible study under your belts – you can usually differentiate between the prophesies which have been fulfilled and those which are yet to be fulfilled. But there are also unfulfilled prophecies about the second coming which seem to be contradictory. Maybe it’s not contradiction, but at the very least, all the various details create confusion. That confusion can sometimes be corrected – if we look at the “second coming” as taking place in two stages. Perhaps it would be more proper to say – there will be a coming of Christ FOR His saints and then a later coming WITH His saints. In the very near future the Lord will return – calling for Christ’s current saints to join Him. And then following the Tribulation He will come again, calling another group of saints together when He will establish His thousand-year Millennial kingdom. When we misunderstand and blend all of the scriptures about Christ’s upcoming “parousia” we can fall into the pit of prophetical confusion. For example, the scripture before us is not talking about Christ’s coming for you and me. This is all about the “second coming proper,” and the saints of these verses are those who will have come out of the seven-year Tribulation. We might call this the “second second coming” although that is not properly accurate.
The disciples asked their Master about the destruction of the temple, and about the time and the signs of His “parousia” – His coming. The word “parousia” literally means “presence” – but the context shows that it is a future presence, so it has come to mean “appearance” or “coming.” Not every time that the word “coming” is used in this chapter is it the Greek word “parousia.” Verse 30 speaks of Christ’s “coming in the clouds of heaven,” and the Greek suggests travel – not arrival. But verse 27 and several others speak of Christ’s presence and suggests permanency.
The disciples asked Christ about the destruction of the temple, and about the time and the signs of His “parousia.” In answer, the Lord spoke about increasing persecution and deception – heresy. Those problems began during the days of the Book of Acts, and have escalated constantly ever since. While the people to whom Jesus was speaking were Christian disciples, I believe that the message was primarily for Israel – not Christ’s churches. Soon – as Daniel tells us – it will take a covenant with the devil to keep Israel from being destroyed. Without specifically mentioning it in this chapter, the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble” will have begun, and verse 15 marks the midway point of that troublesome time, initiating the “Great Tribulation.” Many in Israel will be seeking for, praying for, calling for their Messiah, still not realizing that He has already come – two thousand years ago. All kinds of liars will be pointing to various frauds, but THEN in the midst of utter chaos He will return. “As the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
This scripture suggests three or four things that will transpire at Christ’s “parousia.”
First, as simple as it sounds, Christ Jesus will be clearly seen.
Is this important? The Lord seems to say so. “As the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” We are told that the night sky will become darker than it has ever been. With the dying and death of the sun, the moon will first turn red like blood and then it will not be seen at all. Without the sun – Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Mars will not be visible. And many, most, or all of the stars will cease to shine as well – “the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:” The world will be like a hushed and darkened stage broken only by a vivid and startling flash of lightning. “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
Of course it will not be actual lightning – but the coming of the Lord will be “as” or “like” lightning. The Lord will come all of a sudden, as lightning often comes. “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Lightning is extremely powerful – incredibly powerful. According to experts, a typical lightning bolt contains about 15 million volts of electricity. It instantly heats up the air around it to over 60,000 degrees, with some reaching more than 100,000. The total energy of a strong thunderstorm can exceed the energy released during an atomic explosion. Remember that Christ “will come in power and great glory.” Of course, the Lord seems to be pointing to the speed with which travels – slashing across our vision. It depends on conditions, but the typical lightning bold moves at 224,000 mph – 3,700 mps. But just because it moves so quickly that doesn’t mean that we can’t see it. “As the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
One of the things to be accomplished in Christ’s second coming will be to be seen. Why? Both of Paul’s letters to the church in Thessalonica are filled with references to the Lord’s return. After telling the saints there that God will judge the people who were persecuting them, he said, “And to you are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his might angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” At the second coming, the Lord will be “revealed” (apokalupsis – ap-ok-al’-oop-sis). The human side of creation will finally be forced to recognize that they have a Creator – Son of God. “And then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” When the disciples stood with their eyes transfixed as Jesus ascended into heaven, “behold two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Christ shall return – as visible to the human eye as it was when He left.
Zechariah 12 speaks with vivid detail about the condition of Israel and the region around Jerusalem during the last days of the Tribulation. As Matthew 24:28 tells us the eagles – vultures – will be circling over the carcases of dead and dying Israel. And when it looks like nothing will be left, the Lord will return to save His chosen nation. Zechariah 12:8 – “In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. It shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” Not only will the remnant of Israel be forced to look at their previously rejected Messiah, the whole world will see him. As Revelation 1:7 says, “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”
I can’t speak for Jehovah, but it appears to me that the Lord wants every last man, woman and child – elect or condemned – to see the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
And at that time the Lord will order the gathering of His people – His elect.
“And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” There are scriptures which clearly delineate the territory of Israel during the Millennium – God’s map has been drawn. The population of the world will have been decimated during the Tribulation, but there will still be people scattered throughout. And the descendants of Jacob will be summoned from Russia, Argentina, American and everywhere else to join the Messiah in the Promised Land.
Isaiah 11 is a wonderful chapter of prophecy – about Jesus, the Messiah, the Millennium and about Israel. “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.”
There are dozens of scriptures much like this one. God has made a series of unconditional covenants with Israel which speak about the children of Jacob, the Messiah – the Son of David, and about the land surrounding Jerusalem. Those promises have yet to be fulfilled, but the age of God’s promise has no effect on the eternal God. By the promise of Jehovah there will be a regathering of the remnant of Israel in their Promised land. It will take place after they have been humbled and forced to see that JESUS CHRIST is their Messiah.
A third purpose for the Lord’s coming, as mentioned here, is to bring about mourning.
“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” The word translated “mourn” in Matthew 24:30 is rendered “lament” and “bewail” twice as often as “mourn.” It suggests tremendous grief and emotional pain.
We don’t have time to read the scriptures or describe the disasters that will befall the world during the Tribulation. Suffice it to say that things will escalate hundreds of degrees from anything the world has ever known. The disasters of past wars will be nothing compared to the wars of the near future. The plagues of the middle ages and since – the black death, small pox – will again be like nothing. And as yet unimagined things will fall upon humanity as well. “And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” I cannot say at what point the world – Jewish or Gentile – will realize that Jehovah will be at root of everything, but as those last three and half years roll on more and more will understand.
And when the fulness of time is come the Lord Himself will be seen, and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn. They will wail out of regret for not understanding things earlier. They will bewail their losses and the judgment which will be falling upon them. And they will mourn because millions will stand at the brink of new judgment and eternal death. Zechariah 12:8 – “In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.”
Zechariah 14 summarizes the last few days or hours of the Tribulation. It describes what the Gentile world, led by the Antichrist, will be attempting at Jerusalem. It talks about the return of the Lord, and then ends by describing the beginning of the Millennium. I should read every word, but for the sake of time, I’ll skim through it. “I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken… Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.” From there, Zechariah gives a brief description of the Millennium. “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.”
Matthew tells us – “As the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
My point in all of this is that the Lord keeps His promises. There are promises of judgment against sinners – even the sinners of our day. Thankfully, there are promises of grace and salvation too. I am, as are most of you here today, “in hope (expectation) of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” It is the promise of Jehovah that those who sincerely repent before Him, acknowledging Him as God and Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour will escape these and the other judgments for sin. We will escape only because Christ received judgment on our behalf. It is the promise of God that those who repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, shall be saved from all this.
What logic is there for not coming to Christ in repentance and faith? The beginning of these judgments could commence almost immediately. Are you prepared? Are you a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus?